Mahmudur cleared of arson case

Finding the charges brought against Mahmudur Rahman, acting editor of Bangla daily Amar Desh, groundless, a Dhaka court yesterday discharged him from a case filed for torching a taxicab in March 2013.  

But the court framed charges against 10 others including the then Jubo Dal President Saiful Alam Nirob and former Dhaka City Corporation Ward Councilor Anwaruzzaman alias Anwar accused in the same case.

First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sheikh Chhabidul Islam passed the order after scrutinizing the case dockets, statements of witnesses and other relevant documents of the case.

In his order, the magistrate said he did not find any cogent grounds to frame charges against Mahmudur Rahman. Ten others were indicted as the charges brought against them were found to be true.

Of the 10 accused, Anwar, Lutfor Rahman and five others are now on bail while Nirob and two others are on the run.

The court fixed October 25 to start trial of the case.

According to the prosecution, it was alleged that a group of BNP-led-18 party alliance leaders and activists including Nirob, Anwar, Lutfor torched a taxicab by throwing petrol bomb in front of Wasa Bhaban in the city's Karwan Bazar at about 7:30am on March 26 of 2013.

Later driver of the cab Mohammad Babul filed a case against Nirob, Anwar, Lutfor and 15 others with Tejgaon Police Station.

On April 11 of 2013, police arrested Mahmudur Rahman in the case even though his name was not included in the first information report. He was also remanded for three days in the case.     

Police also pressed charges against Mahmudur and 10 others and dropped the names of eight others from the charge sheet.

Mahmudur, a former energy adviser to the government, is accused in over 70 cases and was present in the court yesterday.